Atomizing device having an annular aspirating zone



June 15, 1965 D. F. CORSETTE ATOMIZING DEVICE HAVING AN ANNULARASPIRATING ZONE Filed April 15; 19 63 INVENTORI lazglas l6arsefic;

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United States Patent 3,189,282 ATOMIZING DEVICE HAVlNG AN ANNULARASPIRATING ZQNE Douglas F. Qorsette, Los Angeles, Caliti, assignor toCalmar, line, City of industry, Calif., a corporation of CaliforniaFiled Apr. 15, 1963, Ser. No. 272,952 4 Claims. (Cl. 23--327) Thisinvention relates to an improved device for aspirating, atomizing andspraying liquids from containers of the resilient plastic type, commonlycalled squeeze bottles, capable of collapsing on application of pressureto the container wall to expel the contents of the container,

It is the primary object of the invention to provide a device of thetype described which may be molded at low cost, as an integral articlein a high speed injection molding operation, and which is capable, whenassociated with a resilient container for liquid, of forming anddischarging the liquid as a suspension in air of finely dividedparticles to provide a fine spray or mist.

Further objects and features of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in connection with the following drawings,in which FIGURE 1 is an elevation of a device illustrative of theinvention, as applied to the mouth of a container for liquid;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary transverse section of the device embodying theinvention;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the device shown in FIG- URE 2; and

FIGURES 4 to 7 are fragmentary sectional views illus trating alternativeforms of the device of the invention.

In order that the principles of the invention may be readily understood,the improved devices shown in the drawing will now be specificallydescribed. It will be appreciated, however, that no limitation of thescope of the invention is thereby intended, and that the inventionembraces such other and further modified structures as would occur tothose skilled in the art.

Referring first to FIGURE 1, there is shown in broken lines the neck ormouth iii of a container for liquid formed of resilient plasticmaterial, for example, poly:

ethylene, often called a squeeze bottle. When supplied with a suitabledischarge fitting for dispensing liquid or flowable material, thecontents of such bottles may be discharged by applying pressure to thewalls of the container to deform and collapse the same. Aqueous liquidmay be dispensed in the form of a spray or a stream; viscous material,such as toothpaste, may be dispensed as a ribbon. In accordance with theinstant invention, the dispensing device is designed to aspirate andatomize a liquid material of relatively low viscosity, such as anaqueous solution or suspension.

The device, indicated generally at 12, is seatedin the mouth 1d of theresilient container, as shown in FIG- URE 1. To this end the device 12is formed to provide a generally disk-shaped top portion 15, whichoverlies and seats on the upper end of the mouth lit of the container.

An annular skirt portion 13 depends from the top por- Within thedepending skirt portion 13, and preferably centrally located in thedevice 12, is a generally vertical tubular portion 18 which depends fromthe top portion 15, and has a length sufficient to reach to a point nearthe bottom of the container, and well below the level of liquid in thecontainer. This portion corresponds generally to the element commonlyreferred to as a dip tube in sprayers of the pump type, in which liquidis discharged from a container by a reciprocation of a pump plunger.

The top portion 15 of the device is also formed to provide a raisedcentral portion having at its periphery an annular rim or bead 20serving to retain a closurecap 22, which snaps onto the bead 20. Thedetails of the cap 22 form no part of the instant invention, and the capmay be constructed generally as shown in the US. patent to Topper No.2,690,861, granted October 5, 1954. As in the aforesaid patent, theclosure cap is attached to the top portion 15 by a flexible retainerstrip 23, the strip 23 and the closure cap 22 being formed integrallywith the atomizing device 12, preferably in an injection moldingoperation. It will be appreciated that all of the parts to whichreference has been made are formed in one piece and as an integralstructure in a single injection molding step. Consequently there are noproblems of assem:

bly, the cost of production is minimized, and failure of poorly fittingparts resulting from nonuniformshrinkage on cooling is avoided.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown more particularly inFIGURE 2, in which the parts of the atomizing device are essentiallysymmetrical about a centralvertical axis. In this embodiment, the topportion of the device is formed to provide a depressed channel 25 ofgenerally annular shape, the walls 26, 27 defining the channelconverging in a downward direction toward and into proximity with thedepending tubular portion 18, at which point walls 26, 27 merge with theupper end of tubular portion 18 to provide an aspirating ZOI1B.

At thiszone the walls 26, 27 are providedwith openings 23, 30respectively, opening 28 communicating with the,

exterior of the tubular portion 18 and opening 30mmmunicating withtheinterior thereof. It will be observed that these openings are formedby the emergence of a single passage 32, having a width slightly greaterthan the thickness of the wall of tubular portion 18, into the interiorand exterior respectively of the tubular portion. Consequently, informing the device by an injection molding operation, the openings 28and 30 can be formed by a single axial projection on the mold part whichdefines or shapes the upper face of the top portion of the device; suchmold part can readily be withdrawn in an axial direction withoutinterference and with no disruption of shown in FIGURE 3, but a greateror less number of aspi rating zones may readily be provided.

In the operation of the device, the resilient container or squeezebottle may be held in the hand and compressed, whereupon liquid isforced upwardly in the tubular portion 18 and through the openings 30into the aspirating zone at the base of channel 25. At the same time,air in the space above the liquid in the container is expelled throughopenings 28, establishing reduced pressure in the aspirating zone as theresult of high velocity of airflow, thereby aiding the escape of liquidthrough the openings 30 and breaking up the escaping liquid into minutedroplets or particles which are entrained and suspended in the airstream, so that the liquid is discharged from the container in the formof a mist or fine spray.

is Walls 26, 27 provide an expansion chamber for the dischargingatomized liquid, controlling the form of the spray.

The atomizing device 12 may be formed of any moldable plastic material,such as a thermoplastic resin, and a wide selection is availableinasmuch as there are no moving parts involved. Preferably, however, thematerial should be somewhat elastic while hot to permit Withdrawal ofthe mold part from the annular recess below the rim or bead 20.Polyethylene or polypropylene resins are satisfactory.

In FIGURE 4 is shown a variant of the embodiment of FIGURES 2 and 3,differing therefrom only in the shape of the openings 28, 30, andsimilar reference char- 7 acters are employed to designate the severalparts. Thus in FIGURE 4, the openings 28 and 3d are formed by studs orprojections on opposing mold parts, withdrawn in opposite directions onseparation of the mold. Again, the shape of the openings is such as tofacilitate the with drawal of the mold parts without interference, sothat no damage is caused and the desired contour and dimensions of theopenings may be predetermined with exactness. AS in FIGURE 3, thechannel 25 defined by walls 26, 27 is of generally annular shape,allowing expansion of the gaseous suspension of liquid as it emergesfrom the aspirating zone FIGURE is illustrative of a furthermodification, substantially similar to that of FIGURE 2, but in whichthe axial length of the opening 28 is considerably greater than that ofopening 38 through which the liquid is aspirated. As in FIGURE 2, theopenings may be formed by a projection on the core of the upper moldpart only. A plurality of pairs of proximate openings may be provided,as in the previously described modifications.

FIGURE 6 illustrates a further modification, in which the two openingsare not in direct communication, the opening 36 which communicates withthe interior of the tubular portion 18 being formed in the wall 37 atone side of the wall of the tubular portion and the opening 39 to theexterior of the tubular portion 18 being formed in the wall 40. Again,the walls 37, 40 define a downwardly converging channel 42, but thechannel need not be, and is not represented as being annular in shape.The air stream discharging through opening 39 flows in a lateraldirection across the opening 36 through which the liquid is aspirated.Thus it is possible with this form of the invention to tilt the bottleto the right to an extent suflicient to direct the spray or mistdownwardly without causing liquid to flow into opening 39 and therebypreclude atomization.

FIGURE 7 illustrates another preferred embodiment of the invention,generally similar to that shown in FIG- URE 4, but involving a reversalof direction of the core parts which form the openings 28, 30respectively. Thus in FIGURE 7, the opening 28 is formed by the lowercore part and the opening 30 by the upper core part. Again, the shape ofthe openings is such as to facilitate withdrawal of the core parts onseparation of the mold. The channel defined by the walls 46, 47 inFIGURE 7 is annular, but the inner face of the wall 46 is substantiallycylindrical, producing a slightly difierent spray pattern from thatproduced in the preceding embodiments, in which both walls are generallyconical.

In all of these modifications, openings are provided at the lowest pointin the depressed channel in the top 4 portion of the device.Consequently any liquid in the channel which is not atomized anddischarged is sucked back into the container by the inspiration of airon release of pressure, or drains back into the container when the sameis returned to an upright position.

It will be appreciated that many other variants of the embodimentsspecifically described may readily be evolved by those skilled in theart, and that the details may be altered as desired to provideddifferent degrees of atomization and varying spray patterns, as well asto accommodate liquids differing in viscosity.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

It. As an article of manufacture, an integral atomizing device forliquid, said device being molded in one piece from moldable plasticmaterial and having a top portion and, depending from said top portion,an annular skirt portion dimensioned for reception in the mouth of aresilient deformable container for liquid, said device having withinsaid skirt portion and depending from said top portion a tubular portionhaving a length suflicient to extend to the lower part of the containerand beneath the level of liquid therein, said top portion having adepressed channel therein, the walls defining said channel convcrgingdownwardly toward and merging with the upper end of said tubular portionto provide thereat an annular aspirating zone, said converging wallshaving at their junction proximate openings therein leading from saidchannel into (a) said tubular portion and (-b) externally of saidtubular portion at said aspirating zone, whereby on application ofpressure to said resilient container, liquid is forced upwardly in saidtubular portion, and is atomized in said aspirating zone on passagethrough openings (a) into said channel by air discharge through openings(b) into said channel.

2. An article of manufacture as claimed in claim 1 in which saidproximate openings are located at each of a plurality of points inspaced relation circumferentially of said channel.

3. An article of manufacture as claimed in claim 1 in which said topportion is provided outwardly of said channel with a closure receivingannular bead, and said device includes, molded integrally therewith, aclosure member dimensioned for reception on said bead, and a flexibleretainer strip connecting said closure member to said top portion ofsaid device.

4. An article of manufacture as claimed in claim 1 in which the walls ofsaid proximate openings are axially directed and so shaped that coreparts employed in their formation may readily be withdrawn from at leastone face of said top portion in the axial separation of the mold at thecompletion of the molding operation.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,571,921 10/51Morris 239-327 2,676,060 4/54 Montenier 239-327 2,723,881 11/55 Tupper239327 2,980,342 4/61 Armour 239-327 2,981,444 4/61 Root 222--2113,014,666 12/61 Verbouwens 239327 3,032,276 5/62 Brainard 239327 EVERETTW. KIRBY, Primary Examiner.

1. AS AN ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE, AN INTEGRAL ATOMIZING DEVICE FORLIQUID, SAID DEVICE BEING MOLDED IN ONE PIECE FROM MOLDABLE PLASTICMATERIAL AND HAVING A TOP PORTION AND, DEPENDING FROM SAID STOP PORTION,AN ANNULAR SKIRT PORTION DIMENSIONED FOR RECEPTION IN THE MOUTH OF ARESILIENT DEFORMABLE CONTAINER FOR LIQUID, SAID DEVICE HAVING WITHINSAID SKIRT PORTION AND DEPENDING FROM SAID TOP PORTION A TUBULAR PORTIONHAVING A LENGTH SUFFICIENT TO EXTEND TO THE LOWER PART OF THE CONTAINERAND BENEATH THE LEVER OF LIQUID THEREIN, SAID STOP PORTION HAVING ADEPRESSURE CHANNEL THEREIN, THE WALLS DEFINING SAID CHANNEL CONVERGINGDOWNWARDLY TOWARD AND MERGING WITH THE UPPER END OF SAID TUBULAR PORTIONTO PROVIDE THEREAT AN ANNULAR ASPIRATING ZONE, SAID COVERGING WALLSHAVING AT THEIR JUNCTION PROXIMATE OPENINGS THEREIN LEADING FROM SAIDCHANNEL INTO (A) SAID TUBULAR PORTION AND (B) EXTERNALLY OF SAID TUBULARPORTION AT SAID ASPIRATING ZONE, WHEREBY ON APPLICATION OF PRESSURE TOSAID RESILIENT CONTAINER, LIQUID IS FORCED UPWARDLY IN SAID RESILIENTCONAND IS ATOMIZED IN SAID ASPIRATING ZONE ON PASSAGE THROUGH OPENINGS(A) INTO SAID CHANNEL BY AIR DISCHARGE THROUGH OPENINGS (B) INTO SAIDCHANNEL.